Date of Award
8-26-2010
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Environmental Sciences, Ph.D.
First Advisor
Tanja McKay
Committee Members
Alan Christian; Hubert Stroud; Russel Minton; Stanley Trauth
Call Number
LD 251 .A566d 2010 H28
Abstract
Freshwater mollusks represent one of the most imperiled groups in North America. Basic information reguarding distribution, species limits, and evolutionary relationships is lacking. In an effort to fill in data gaps reguarding diversity and distribution of freshwater mollusks, particularly west of the Mississippi River, I identified two main objectives. The first objective was to examine two taxonomically challenging groups (Pleuroceridae:Gastropoda and Unionidae:Pleurobemini) using molecular phylogenetics. The goal of this work was to provide a molecular hypothesis to aid in sorting out phenotypic plasticity and cryptic diversity. The second objective was to conduct a survey of freshwater gastropods from the Interior Highlands in Arkansas. This study highlights the importance of taxonomic studies in conservation efforts. The molecular analysis revealed instances of cryptic diversity in both the Pleuroceridae and the Pleurobemini, however the patterns of diversity were not congruent. In the Pleurobemini, diversity was largely congruent with geographic distributions while diversity in the Pleuroceridae was incongruent with geography or morphology. The Pleuroceridae of the Interior Highlands produced highly divergent sequences which we attribute to ancient lineages. For the Pleurobemini, we highlight three instances of new taxa that possibly warrant species recognition. For the gastropod survey objective, we provide distribution records for 24 species, which will be vital baseline data for management of this imperiled group. Both of these studies highlight the need and the importance of basic research regaurding diversity and distribution of freshwater mollusks.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Hayes, David Michael, "Genetic Diversity and Distribution of Selected Freshwater Mollusks (Gastropoda and Bivalvia) From West of the Mississippi River with an Emphasis on Arkansas Taxa" (2010). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1000.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1000
